Confirmation: UK lab confirms Australian sheep not infected

Blood samples drawn from 102 random sheep tested negative.

KARACHI:

A United Kingdom-based laboratory, the Pirbright Institute, has certified that the Australian sheep imported into Karachi by PK Livestock and Meat, are fit for human consumption and disease free.

Blood samples, drawn from 102 random sheep were tested at the laboratory, known for conducting research on infectious diseases amongst farm animals, after the Sindh High Court (SHC) had ordered an immediate halt to the culling of the imported stock and constituted an independent committee to ascertain the truth behind allegations of disease amongst the imported animals.

“The samples have tested negative for the presence of antibodies to bluetongue, PPR Virus and FMD virus,” Dr Jef Hammond, who serves as the Institute’s head of vesicular disease reference laboratories, wrote in his report.

“The interpretation of results demonstrates that since no antibodies have been found, we can safely say that the sheep were not infected with any of the tested diseases. There is no reason to exclude them from being processed for human consumption on these grounds, subject to regular meat inspection processes,” he added.

The managing director for Wellard Rural Exports, Stephen Meerwald, called the test report a “final endorsement” of the health of the Australian sheep.

Wellard, which had exported the sheep from Australia, said in their statement, “from the outset, Wellard, PK Livestock and Meat, and the Australian government have claimed the sheep to be healthy and fit for human consumption.”

Case adjourned

Meanwhile, a bench of the SHC comprising Justice Maqbool Baqar and Justice Naimatullah Phulpoto, on Friday, adjourned the sheep culling case filed by Tariq Mehmood Butt, who is the owner of PK Livestock and Meat, until October 17.

The adjournment came after Husbandry Commissioner Khurshid Ahmed presented Pirbright Institute’s report before the judges.

The report of the committee has revealed that 7,667 sheep were culled before September 21, when the SHC ordered the stay.  Currently, only 11,306 sheep are reported to be alive from the original stock of approximately 20,450 sheep.

According to a headcount conducted by the SHC appointed committee, on September 25, almost half of the sheep imported from Australia during the first week of September are either dead or missing.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 13^th, 2012.